Shoe



June 17, 1930. A. A. WILLIAMS SHOE Filed Dec. 14, 1927 Patented June 17, 193% ARTHUR A WILLIAMS, OF HOLLISTON, MASSACHUSETTS SHOE Application. filed December 14, 1927. Serial No. 239,902.

My invention relates to boots and shoes and particularly to an improved low shoe for use while engaged in sports such as golf, for example.

One of the two styles of low shoes heretofore provided included a vamp which was centrally divided from its top to the bottom of the instep to provide two flaps which were secured together by means of lace. The other style of low shoe heretofore provided, viz, the blucher, was constructed with a top made in two parts including a vamp or forepart and a rear part including the quarters of the upper which were sewed to the vamp, but only at the opposite sides of the latter so that the forward ends of the quarters provided very wide flaps secured together by lacings and which overlay the vamp, the latter having a tongue extension reaching to the top of the shoe. A low shoe is 'WOIII while engaged in sports in preference to a high shoe for the reason that it allows of a freedom of movement of the foot which is not possible with a high shoe. When engaged in sports, for example golf, the shoe is flexed and strained in practically all directions sidewise and endwise, and either of the two shoes referred to would soon work loose particularly at the instep so that the wearers foot was not properly incased and supported. Furthermore, flexing of the shoe longitudinally, as when making a drive, would operate to spread apart the tops of the quarters of the shoe so that gravel and dirt was often admitted to the latter. Also with the types of shoes heretofore provided the instep of the "f foot was not properly confined and supported with the result that the player was soon fatigued, because of lack of support of the arch and because of dropping of the latter. My invention has for its object to overcome the objections noted and to provide an improved low shoe of the laced blucher type provided with means, supplementing the usual lacing for holding the two flaps of the shoe against being spread apart through movement of the foot thereby not only relieving the lace from the strain to which it has heretofore been subjected but holding the tops of the quarters of the shoe snugly fitted against the ankle, and also to support the arch of the foot.

To these ends I have provided a low laced shoe of the blucher style or type having incorporated therewith two flexible straps made from leather or other suitable material. One of these straps has one end thereof securely fastened to the quarter of the shoe at one side of the latter closely adjacent the sole of the shoe and the breast. of the heel of the latter, while the other strap has one end thereof permanently fastened to the opposite quarter of the shoe close to the sole and the breast of the heel. That is, the ends of these two flexible straps are fastened to opposite sides of the shank portion of the lower part of the upper close to the sole and the breast of the heel and it is a feature of this invention that these two straps are fastened in position so that they extend obliquely upward and forward from their points of anchorage. Means, as for example a buckle, is provided by means of which the free ends of the straps can be fastened together with provision for adjustment so that at least oneof those straps extends across the top of the upper portion of the instep.

Other features of my invention are hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a blucher typelow shoe constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan'view of the shoe shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative construcl-Iaving reference to the drawings, 1 repre sents the vamp of my improved shoe and 2,

2 the quarters thereof, the latter being sewed together at the rear of the shoe and the seam covered-by a back-stay 3. These parts are securedtogether and to the sole 4 in the usual fashion and the latter is provided with the usual heel 5. The quarters 2, 2 of the shoe 7 are fastened to the'vamp 1 by lines of stitches 6 which extend from the in-seam of the shoe to the points 7, 7 thereby providing two'side flaps 8, 8 overlying the upper port-ion ofthe vamp 1 that is formed with a tongue extension 9. The flaps 8 are provided with the usual eyelets 10 to receive the usual lace 11 by means of which the flaps 8 are connected together throughout their lengths across the top of the instep. So far as described above the construction is the same as in the ordinary blucher low shoe.

Proceeding in accordance with my invention I provide two flexible straps 12 and 13 .sole4 and the breast of the heel 5. That is,

the ends of both'of these straps are fastened to the lower shank portion of the upper in oblique positions with respect to the sole so that their median lines are approximately normal to the upper or topportions of the e'dges 'of the flaps 8, 8 which are at the top of the instep. The strap 12 has permanently connected with its opposite end a buckle 16 while the free end of the "strap 13 is made with perforations 17 toco-operate with the buckle 16 in the usual fashion, asshown.

Y In Figure 3 I have illustrated an alternative construction where the strap 12 extends down to "the innersole 18 where its lower end occupies a position between the welt 20 and quarter 2, and the same istitches'19whi'ch fasten the welt andupp'er to said innersole, also extend through the strap 12. It will be understood'that withthis form of my inven- 'tion the other strap 13islikewise inc'orporated in the shoeiand both are sewed to the innersole thereby relieving the upper of stretching strains to agreat extent.

v When the shoe is used the flaps are first fastened together in the usual fashion by means of the lace 11 and then Lthestrap 13 snugly tight and secured in that condition.

7 The oblique disposition of the twostraps 12 and 13 is an important feature of the 'construction and the particular angle at which these strapsare fastened to the upper is more or less critical in order to have them function as desired, and when the shoe is in'use owing to the oblique disposition ofthe straps and their tensioned condition they exert a' forward pull upon the opposite sides of the upper, and at the same time, so confine the upper portions of the flaps 8, that the tops of the quarters can not and do not belly outward away from the ankle of the wearer when the shoe is flexed thus preventing the entranceof dirt, gravel and the like.

From the above description it=will be seen that my. invention does not consist .inmerely providinga lowshoe with strapsforfholding the flaps of the upper closed,,but in providing" the particularly positioned oblique straps 12 and 13 extending over the upper part of the instep and co-operating with the lower part of the shank of the shoe to provide an arch supporting belt which relieves the lace 11 from stretching and loosening strains. 1

What I claim is: V 1

In a low shoe of the blucher type .havingan upper provided with instep flaps overlying the vamp of the shoe and secured ,tog.e'ther;

by means of a lace, the combination therewith of two supplemental straps disposed upon the exterior of the upper-above the sole, one at each side of said upper; longitudinal rows of stitches fastening 'asubstantial length of the lower ,portion of each .of said straps to one quarter of said upper at one side of the shankportion thereof, andnoninstep-supporting relationship "closely .adja cent the tied ends of said :lace was to cause them to hold the tops ofthe quarters closed against the foot .therebyrelieving the knot of the lace and :the latter from the strain imposed bythe foot upon the shoe whileit is in use, both of said .strapsrbeing positioned obliquely with respect to the sole of theshoe elevation.

ARTHUR .A. 7

these straps perform'three functions, viz, the lace 11is relieved from injurious stretch- Signed by .me this 1th day vofDecember, 1927. ,7 I is passed over the top of the instep and engaged with the buckle 16. It is then drawn i 

